Exploring the Relationship between Tertiary Education and Child Maltreatment: An ARDL Analysis

This study aims to investigate the correlation between child abuse and tertiary education as a potential determining factor, in addition to established variables such as unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. The data spanning from 1989 to 2020 is analyzed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique. Our findings reveal that inflation can have both short-term and long-term effects on child abuse, while unemployment primarily has a long-term impact on child abuse. However, an interesting discovery emerges as tertiary education demonstrates a protective effect, effectively reducing child abuse in the long run. These findings emphasize the significance of formulating strategies to mitigate the child abuse rate. Policymakers should consider allocating increased resources to enhance tertiary education, recognizing its potential role in preventing child abuse. By focusing on education and addressing the other identified determinants, the government can develop a comprehensive approach to safeguarding children and promoting their well-being. The novelty of this study lies in highlighting the importance of tertiary education and its potential for reducing child abuse, providing valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates in their efforts to protect vulnerable children. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2022-03-04-05 Full Text: PDF